‘The final round was with the CEO of a startup at 2 AM’: 22 insane job interview red flags as told by prior prospective employees

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Jul 19, 2024 7:00 AM EDT

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  • Job interviews are one of the most nerve-wracking experiences any individual can possibly go through. You're trying to figure out what business casual actually means, memorize all of your star-studded accomplishments, all the while trying not to break a sweat (and make eye contact). A piece of advice: think of the interview process as if you are the one interviewing the interviewer, rather than the other way around. Do you really want to work here? What about the job do you like for yourself?

    Sometimes, we come across the most entitled management making interviewees even more nervous; summoning employees to do technical tests without warning, other employees telling you not to work there, or making them interview at ungodly hours of the night. Yes, you heard me. Overworked employees are now being expanded: meet the overworked prospective employees. Working for a company before you're hired and without compensation sets the tone for the work environment you enter. If it's not clear: this is a big no-no. Have you ever noticed a glaring red flag during the interview process?

  • 01
    Worst red flag you have ever encountered while interviewing?
    via Tudorrosewiththorns
  • 02
    I interviewed with a company last month that my third interview was with the CEO and the 4th was with the founder but they told me the hiring manager was way too busy for me to talk with him before I started. Hard pass.
    via Tudorrosewiththorns
  • 03
    UCFknight2016 • 10h ago Probably the one where the hiring manager took me to his office, closed his blinds and told me that I dont really want this job and told me the reasons why he was leaving himself pretty soon. I shook his hand, thanked him for his honesty and left.
    via UFCknight2016
  • 04
    VariationNo5419 • 10h ago As the interviewer walked me to the front desk to hand in my visitor's badge the employee behind the desk shook her head no and mouthed "Don't do it."
    via VariationNo5419
  • 05
    Zorro-the-witcher • 11h ago Hiring manager wouldn't stop talking about how she rarely she sees her husband and kid, due to all the hours she works... I was not going to relocate my family for that Withdrew my application quickly.
    via Zorro-the-witcher
  • 06
    Deodandy 10h ago • Applied to a cybersecurity job HR lady had me perform some pseudo psychometric ethics- evaluation quiz before I could land an interview. They were weird trolley- problem 'esque questions and some were even heavily political??? Honestly, thank they didnt give me a call back. Bunch of weirdos
    via Deodandy
  • 07
    Pa17325 9h ago . I had an restaurant owner tell me at the interview that he almost didn't bother to schedule an interview with me because I didn't answer the phone when he called me and didn't call back within a couple minutes of missing his call. He says "when you start working here, you need to be available anytime I call you"
    via Pa17325
  • 08
    • commongardeng... 10h ago Interviewer genuinely began the interview with "It's my job to put you off this job" and then started listing all the reasons why I shouldn't or wouldn't want it. He said that the regional manager would be conducting the second interview tomorrow and that I'd get a call. I never got a call.
    via commongardengoth
  • 09
    Gooberman8675 • 7h ago Walk in and immediately get asked "so what position did you apply for?"
    via Gooberman8675
  • 10
    osscie39 · 8h ago Interviewed at a bank once. Hiring manager seemed good enough. Talked to a few of the employees. All of them said she makes them come in on Saturdays constantly and that if I had a family like them, this is not the job to take.
    via osscie39
  • 11
    They offered. I politely and professionally declined. They kept pressing on why. I told them about the feedback I got. They begged me to come in at 4pm on a Thursday afternoon to see the office. I obliged. Office was a ghost town. But something was completely off. They either staged it. Or the employees lied. Regardless, I passed on the offer. So odd.
    via osscie39
  • 12
    Ordos_Agent • 9h ago "What would you do if your boss told you to do X, but then the owner of the company asked you to do Y instead." I pressed for info and they basically openly said the owner was a crazy old man who refused to retire. Thank you no thanks.
    via Ordos_Agent
  • 13
    . soulfullylost • 7h ago Asked me to work for free for 3 hours so he could decide whether he would hire me.
    via soulfullylost
  • 14
    RACKE Brackens_World • 10h ago Days after I interviewed with the CEO, which went well, I got word from HR that he was gone. The new CEO called me and still wanted me, sight unseen, but this was a relocation, and I said thanks but no thanks.
    via Brackens_World
  • 15
    abundantvibe7141 • 8h ago I walked in the front door for a scheduled interview and the owner had no idea who I was. Should have walked straight back out at that moment. The interview was a show. She didn't even have the copy of the resume I sent in my application. She wanted me to start on a trial basis and I politely declined
    via abundantvibe7141
  • 16
    CthulhusLeftTent... 8h ago Refusal to discuss pay. I dont care who you are if a company refuses to at least discuss a salary range in an interview, it's a massive no for me. In most cases i wont even apply if they dont list it in the job description.
    via CthulhusLeftTentacl
  • 17
    . Interesting-Cycle... • 8h ago After 5 rounds of technical interview on one day. The final round was with the CEO of a startup at 2 am. This was during Covid and all the employees were in the office at 2 am.
    via Interesting-Cycle296
  • 18
    ShadowInTheCor... . 6h ago "That tattoo is going to be a problem, we have older customers here", he said about a smaller tattoo on my arm, while he was assisting waiters with his arm fully. covered with tattoos. "I can do that tho because I'm the manager II off.
    via ShadowInTheCorn3r
  • 19
    • juiceweasel2 5h ago The two managers interviewing me got into a fight about who would leave the interview so I got up and left. This was for a supposedly white collar analyst job and the office was above a rim repair shop and tye receptionist had a facial tattoo
    via juiceweasel2
  • 20
    yellowish3 4h ago A company offed me a job at the end of the first interview. I asked about benefits as I'm particularly interested in the health insurance. I was told I would receive the benefit package info after I agreed to work for them, but not before. No thank you.
    via yellowish3
  • 21
    LilioCandidior • 4h ago First thing he said was "you looked more attractive on your application photo" after he forgot he even had an interview. It was an IT job...
    via LilioCandidior
  • 22
    . Nomadic_View • 2h ago I had a job interview with two people. They talked to each other during the interview and ultimately decided to axe the position I was applying for while I sat there.
    via Nomadic_View
  • 23
    Bigphillystyle30 1h ago When I showed up for the interview and no one at reception knew I was coming, and HR wasn't answering their phone, so the secretary put me in a storage room and told me to wait, after 25 minutes I decided no one was coming and got up and left
    via Bigphillystyle30

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workplace-stories toxic-workplace work askreddit reddit story horrible-management workplace Horrible Bosses reddit thread red flag job interview interview entitled people toxic-work-environment
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